The Big Stories

Samsung Galaxy S6 U.S. Release Details: What We Know At This Point

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge finally hit stores earlier this month, and that includes those in the U.S. Still, release details are coming in for both devices, and here’s a quick recap of what these details mean for buyers.

As a backdrop to the story, the Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy S6 edge first arrived in March, at the 2015 Mobile World Congress in Spain. At that event, Samsung confirmed that the devices would have a global release date of April 10, and that date’s come and gone with many carriers in the U.S. having released the phones as scheduled, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, and Boost Mobile. Both Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge boast of improved fundamentals, metal designs, and a streamlined list of features that greatly cuts down on the bloatware. So where do consumers go from here now that the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge have been released by several leading mobile carriers?

Yes, the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge are now out on all major carriers and regional provider Boost Mobile, but for customers of Cricket Wireless, the Galaxy S6 will be out in the market on April 24. According to Cricket, the Galaxy S6 will be released in physical stores and on the carrier website, and like Boost Mobile, it may only be offering the 32 GB version of the S6, but not the curved display-rocking Galaxy S6 edge.

Off-contract buyers on Cricket can purchase the Galaxy S6 for $650, which is consistent with pricing details on other carriers. You’ll also be able to get the phone with a $19.99 down payment as part of a monthly payment plan, and in addition, customers would also be able to take advantage of the “90 days same-as-cash payment option” following a $49.99 initial payment. The advantage of this arrangement is that a credit check is not required. But that’s not all, as Cricket is also offering a Galaxy S6 deal that expires on April 30 – anyone switching from Boost, Sprint, MetroPCS, or T-Mobile to Cricket’s $50 or $60/month plans will get one month of service free of charge.

Unfortunately, MetroPCS remains as the only American carrier that hasn’t offered any Galaxy S6 or Galaxy S6 edge release details, but since Cricket’s already spilled the beans, it might not be longer before MetroPCS does the same.